Monday, 23 January 2012

Disney Princesses & The Real Women Behind Them

Have you ever wondered what the face of the real person behind your favourite Disney Princess looked like?

Was she as beautiful as your heroine? Did she look like anything like her at all?

I know i have long wondered if the woman who sung for Ariel in The Little Mermaid, had long , flowing red hair to match her characters, or if the voice behind Snow White had hair as black an ebony too.

So, while this is not strictly beauty related (though i think perhaps it could be loosely) i decided that after 26 years, id like to know who these women were a take a look at and the faces behind the enchanting and mesmerising voices that filled my childhood.

Snow White

Adriana Caselotti

Adriana was 18 whenWalt Disneypersonally chose her for the voice of Snow White in his first full length animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs(1937). He was looking for a fresh and natural voice, and asked her father if any of his students might be suitable, but on hearing Adriana's voice realized his search was over. It was the days of studio contracts and indenture, and Walt wanted to keep the mystery of the Snow White voice, so except for a bit part inThe Wizard of Oz(1939) she was in no other film.

Sleeping Beauty

Mary Costa

In 1952, after meeting people at a party with her future husband, directorFrank Tashlin, she auditioned for the part of Disney'sPrincess Aurora.Walt Disneycalled her personally within hours of the audition to inform her that the part was hers.

The Little Mermaid

Jodi Benson

Jodi Benson, a native of Rockford, Illinois, has received worldwide recognition and critical acclaim as the voice of "Ariel" in the AcademyAward-winningWalt Disneyanimated feature filmThe Little Mermaid(1989), as well as the bubbly voice of "Tour Guide Barbie" in Disney'sToy Story 2(1999), winner of the Golden GlobeAwardfor Best Picture.

Pocahontas

Irene Bedard (Above right)

Daughter of an Inupiat Eskimo and a French Canadian/Cree she was the physical model for the Pocahontas character in the Disney films. She was the voice of Pocahontas in the Disney animated film, and went on to play Pocahontas's mother in 2005's "The New World."

Judy Kuhn (Below)

Judy sang the title role in Disney's animated film,Pocahontas, as well as in the straight-to-video sequel,Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World. She also sang as Pocahontas inIf You Can Dream, aDisney Princesssong

Beauty & The Beast

Paige O’Hara

O'Hara's most notable appearance on screen was as the voice of Belle in the animatedDisneyfilmBeauty and the Beast, a role she has reprised for all subsequent spin-offs and sequels of the film, including theSquare Enix/DisneyKingdom Heartsvideo game series.Beauty and the Beastwas nominated for numerousAcademy Awards(including the Best Picture and three nominations for Best Original Song), and consequently, she also performed live at theOscarsin 1992.

Cinderella

Ilene Woods

Her songwriter- friendsMack DavidandJerry Livingstonasked her, as a favour, to record two of their newest songs, not telling her that they were for the upcoming Disney animated featureCinderella(1950). WhenWalt Disneyheard her voice on the recordings, he chose her to voice that film's title role

Princess Jasmine from Aladdin

Linda Larkin

She is best known for providing the speaking voice ofPrincess Jasminein the movieAladdinand various Aladdin sequels and spin-offs, as well as in theKingdom Heartsvideo game series.In order for her to voice Princess Jasmine she had to lower her voice due to Disney saying her voice was too high for Jasmine's voice

Now, i don't know about you but i think both Snow White and Sleeping Beauty look a LOT like the women who voiced them (Princess Aurora and Mary Costa even have the same eybrows!) - yes the lady behind Pocahontas' voice does too, but then she was the model for her character.

What do you think, have i unintentionally shattered your illusions? Did you image them to look as they do, and more important, what was your favourite Disney film?

i cant beleive the first 2 they look so much like their characters. I like things like this as most of these arent appreciated. I always remember the woman that was Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang did the singling voice of Eliza Doolittle in the film as Audrey couldnt sing at all. but she was never acknowledge for it for a long while.

I love this post! I loved Disney films as a child and I now have a little girl who's 3 and is currently obsessed with the Princesses so I've watched all of these recently and it's really interesting to see the women behind the voices.xx

I have to say I was pretty disappointed with Princess Jasmine! Great post - i'd never even thought about this before. My favourite Disney Song is I Won't Say I'm In Love from Hercules. I wonder who sings that one.....xxxx